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Show OUR GREETING. With feelings akin to dread we venture upon the journalistic sea, upon whose bosom, often storm-vexed, our voyage is fraught with many dangers, and whose shores are strewn with so many unfortunate wrecks. And yet, hoping to avoid the fatal reefs upon which the unfortunate have perished, we move forward imbued with an earnest hope that the Utah Journal may have a safe and successful voyage. Should storms beat around and breakers threaten, we shall work manfully, trusting in God and out friends for support. Northern Utah and Southern Idaho have long felt the need of what we hope to make the Journal - a live, progressive, independent, reliable newspaper. With little effort we have secured the necessary capital to start the paper, and trust to the patronage of our friends to enable us to continue and improve. Sensible of our present inability to make it what we would like, or what it should be, we trust the modesty accompanying our inexperience may secure not only the encouragement of wiser heads, but also the refreshing charity which ever springs spontaneously from the noble hearts trained in the school of mature judgment. While many promises made at this time could scarcely be regarded less than imprudent, and might prove beyond our ability to perform, we feel warranted in saying that we shall scrupulously avoid all objectionable, unchaste matter. Nothing will be published in our columns as advertisements or otherwise, that would cause a blush of shame to tinge the cheek of innocence or excite morbid thoughts of an immoral character in the minds of the inexperienced. We shall, therefore, neither advertise nor puff any profession nor business which may be considered debasing in its tendency. And while endeavoring with our whole might to advocate the right of all men and women - regardless of creed or color - to the highest possible liberty, we shall set our face like flint against that license too often called liberty which destroys the peace and happiness of others. In this connection we here, and now announce that no money nor other consideration can ever be potent enough to induce the present management of the Journal to open its columns to advertisements of quack nostrums for the cure of certain nameless diseases, gaming schemes nor liquor traffic. We are opposed to them. And holding all who engage in such businesses, enemies to our friends, and friends to our enemies, we shall commend neither them nor their pursuits. So much for our candid modesty. Health of body and purity of mind being essential to greatness as well as goodness, we shall endeavor to promote them by pointing out the stepping stones which have led so many to sorrow, ruin, and death. The Journal will earnestly contend for the rights of man, and will oppose all who seek to encroach upon the liberties of the people, for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are gifts from God, endorsed by the Constitution of our common country. He who seeks to take them away is false to the Creator and a traitor to his country. The late lamented Garfield in his first and last inaugural address to the American people declared it is treason to tamper with the ballot box, and thereby deprive the citizen of his sacred, blood bought right of franchise. Can an act be treason when performed by an individual, but a virtuous expedient when performed by statesmen and lawmakers? Does principle rest rightfully upon power, or power upon principle? Can power be exercised regardless of principle be long lived? Under the pressure of the strong and according to the Darwinian doctrine of "the survival of the fittest" the weak may appear to go to the wall, but from among the oppressed minority come the best hearts, the highest thoughts, and the noblest aspirations. From the minority, when oppressed, have sprung the purest motives; and their profound reverence for justice and equity have been the cause of the greatest struggles for human liberty the world has ever known. The pages of history, recording scenes of violence and blood, are brightened with these facts, and with them before us as beacons that give courage and inspire hope, we shall defend the weak against the encroachments of the strong, and never, God being our helper, sacrifice principle at the greedy shrine of prejudice so often disguised as "popular opinion." As far as space may permit, the columns of the Journal, will be open to all, to advocate or defend the rights of man, regardless of creed, color or profession. We have our ideas of religion. We shall contend with all the force we have against those who may seek to deprive man or woman of that free agency with which the Creator has endowed them. We shall sustain all in the exercise of their civil, religious, and political rights, holding that none should infringe upon the liberty, peace and happiness of others in doing so. Recognizing the sacred, divine doctrine of common consent, politically we shall maintain the right of the majority to rule in the territorial, state or general government capacity. So long, therefore, as the political organization known as the "People's Party" in Utah are in the majority, we shall contend for their just and constitutional right to control the political affairs of the Territory. We will do our best to expose every fraudulent attempt which may be made to subvert this fundamental principle of Republicanism. And, while recognizing the power of Congress to enact proscriptive, un-American and even infamous laws for the government of territorial citizens, we shall urge the people of Utah to contest, by every lawful means, its right to do so. In doing this we shall endeavor to review public measures and the acts of public men from an honest and independent standpoint. In sustaining the interests of the people, we shall defend right and condemn wrong-doing, upon principle and regardless of men, seeking to harmonize, upon just principles only, conflicting interests and antagonized views; believing any union undesirable and short-lived, unless resting upon the solid foundation of justice and right. |